Philadelphia has emerged in the 21st century not just as a destination, but a premier player in the culinary landscape of the United States.
The city has drawn rave reviews in The New York Times and earned high praise from big publications like Bon Appetit and Eater. Even better, the city's newest restaurants — Kanella Grill, Sate Kampar and Double Knot — are garnering some of the highest praise from local and visiting diners.
We can now add another distinction to Philly's restaurant scene, thanks to a ranking on Eater's 2016 list of the most beautiful restaurants in America.
Michael Schulson's Harp & Crown is Center City's pretty, young thing—a drop-dead gorgeous upstairs dining room with ample seating, vintage decor, a wraparound bar, and great eats by Food & Wine's 2012 Best New Chef Karen Nicholas. Downstairs, though, is where the real magic happens. The basement, called Elbow Lane, is somewhat of a secret cocktail lounge, complete with its own bar and bowling alley.
Now, Harp & Crown is getting a nod for its cozy combination of vintage splendor and homespun appeal. It's the kind of place where an important conversation should be filmed in one of the booths. Lit by chandeliers and adorned with old portraits, it carries the warm glow of history and the power of place that has endured through decades of change in Center City.